Sensual Confessions - Brenda Jackson [65]
He didn’t want to tell her he usually didn’t get up before eight. So instead he lied. “No, that won’t be a problem. Will you need to stop somewhere for breakfast before you get to the office?”
She shook her head. “No, I usually prepare my own breakfast.”
He nodded, thinking it would be nice, since he was driving her into the office, if she invited him to join her for breakfast. When time passed and she didn’t issue an invitation, he figured he wouldn’t be getting one.
When he came to another traffic light he glanced over at her and saw she’d closed her eyes again. Evidently, she hadn’t gotten any more sleep last night than he had.
At that moment, he couldn’t help but wonder just what kind of relationship she had with her parents. She’d mentioned that they had attended Luke and Mac’s wedding, but then so had more than five hundred other people. Besides, he had spent his time checking out the single women and not older married couples.
However, he did recall seeing Sam’s brother, although the two of them hadn’t been officially introduced. What he had seen was the way the man had watched Peyton every chance he got. He wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. Of course, Wyatt and Tanner had been checking Peyton out for themselves, had picked up on his territorial actions and figured it was best to keep their distance. Sam’s brother didn’t look like a person anyone would want to tangle with over a woman.
When he made the turn into the complex, he noticed Sam’s eyes were open and she glanced around. “We’re home already?”
A hot, tingling sensation shot through his midsection with her response. She made it sound as if they were a couple who were going to the same place, to eat together, tangle between the sheets and eventually fall asleep together. It was hard to explain, but playing house with her didn’t sound so bad.
“Yes, we’re almost there,” he said, “just as soon as we get through Security.”
A short while later, as they drove toward the area where their town houses were located, slowing down almost to a crawl for the speed bumps, Blade glanced over at her. “You aren’t planning on going back out any more tonight, are you?”
“No, I’m in. I need to get all the sleep I can.”
So did he, but he had a feeling sleep wouldn’t come easily again tonight.
“Thanks for bringing me home, Blade, and you didn’t have to walk me to the door.”
He came and stood beside her, much too close for her peace of mind. “Yes, I did. And I’m going to check out the inside, as well,” he said in that throaty voice that gave her goose bumps.
“Do you really think that’s necessary?” she couldn’t help but say as she worked her key into the lock.
“Considering everything that’s happened today, yes, I do.”
She decided not to argue with him. Instead, after opening the door she moved aside to let him enter first. She walked in behind him and closed the door, watching as he moved around checking the rooms downstairs. She had tossed her purse on the table when he walked into her kitchen and dining-room area. When he returned and headed up the stairs, she felt a tightening in her stomach. She wasn’t sure how she felt about him being in her bedroom. That was really invading her personal space. Kicking off her heels, she quickly moved to follow him.
“Really, Blade, is all this necessary?”
He barely glanced over his shoulder. “You asked me that before and I told you that it was.”
When they made it to the landing he glanced around. “Did you know the design of your town house is identical to mine?”
“I figured it would be.”
He kept walking, looking into the bedrooms he passed. “How do you like having a sauna?” he asked.
“It’s nice.” Then she frowned. “If someone is in here, then our talking out loud has taken away the element of surprise. I hope you know that.”
Instead of responding he shrugged his muscular shoulders and kept walking. When he got to her bedroom he paused in the doorway and glanced around. She couldn’t help wondering what he was thinking, with all the shades